City Hall will “fast-track” a slow-down in central Geelong after feedback “largely” backed a 40km/h limit, according to council administrators.
The trio voted in favour of implementing the speed cut after trialling the 40km/h zone in collaboration with VicRoads and the Traffic Accident Commission.
The new limit would apply between McKillop and Swanston Sts, Latrobe Tce and Geelong’s waterfront, City Hall said.
Administrators chair Kathy Alexander wanted the 40km/h zone rolled out early next year rather than waiting to include it in City Hall’s 2017/2018 budget.
The roll-out would cost $25,000, Dr Alexander said.
Submissions during the trial period “largely supported the reduced speed limit”, she said.
“The City is committed to doing whatever we can to improve cycling, pedestrian and driver safety across the region and in our central business district.
“Reducing the speed limit in central Geelong will ensure our busy CBD streets are safer and more accessible for all road users.”
City officers would continue monitoring and reporting on traffic movements in surrounding streets to determine any impact from the new zoning, Dr Alexander said.
City Hall earlier this year cited 156 crashes with 52 “serious injuries” in central Geelong over the past five years as justification for the cut
But Victoria’s peak motorists’ group has slammed the 40km/h limit as ineffective in improving inner-city road safety.
RACV’s Dave Jones told the Geelong Indy in August that the cut was a “blunt method” that would make “no difference” to accident rates.
He doubted the rationale for the cut, calling on City Hall to release data showing how many accidents in central Geelong were related to speed.
The administrators should instead redesign streets to influence driver behaviour and separate pedestrians and traffic, he said.
